Druzhina is a very interesting Russian band, with an uncanny sense for atmospherics. The sound is rooted in the pagan/folk/black common in Eastern Europe/Russia, but they're not afraid to incorporate big, cosmic black metal synths, and even a hint of progressive rock. If you enjoyed their previous album, Echoes of Distant Battles, then Kosmonoetika is worth tracking down, even though it's a little more obscure and spacey sounding."Eeriness of the Azure" opens the affair with a big wall of ambient synths, a lush atmosphere that rolls into a driving blast beat well before the churning guitars. Various flutes and synths are used to create abstractions into their riffing, so the guitars remain a driving elemental force and rarely become catchy on their own. "Tale of Xiosrev" creates a mood of despair and desperation during its opening synths over drums, and the use of light pianos is perfectly executed. "Without Return" returns to the pianos, over dark acoustics and very light background synths, before its glorious pagan folk riffing. Perhaps the finest track on the album is the final "Constellation", with gorgeous soothing vocal choirs, acoustics and soft ambient sections interspersed with seething melodic folk/black. Taken as a whole, the album provides a deep journey into the wild creative impulse of these musicians.
Perfect, it is not. As I mentioned, the guitars, while sufficient, rarely evoke any worthwhile riffs, trading in their individuality for a place in the greater puzzle. While this approach does not offend my ears, I feel a bigger guitar riff here or there would have strengthened the material. Overall, the metal sections of the songs are the weakest, whereas the ambient and progressive moments shine throughout. Kosmonoetika is a good second effort, and the band stands out because of what they attempt, but I get the feeling there is much better to come from Druzhina.
Verdict: Win [7/10]
http://www.druzhina.dk/
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